Geranium plant named ‘TOSTD0460’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘TOSTD0460’, characterized by its semi-double type, deep reddish-purple colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage with zonation, and vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Pelargonium xhortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘TOSTD0460’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant botanically known as Pelargonium x hortorum and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘TOSTD0460’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inHendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands during July 2015. The objective ofthe breeding program was the development of heat-tolerant Geraniumcultivars with semi-double type flowers having attractive flowercoloration, and a vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Geranium cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Pelargonium xhortorum breeding selection coded TB0378, not patented, characterized byits semi-double type, dark hot pink colored flowers, mediumgreen-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and upright-mounded growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is Eco Neon Rose‘Genedona’, not patented, characterized by its semi-double type, darkhot pink colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, upright-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discoveredand selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during August 2016 in a controlled environmentin Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2016 in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands and Arroyo Grande,Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to typewith all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed andretained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘TOSTD0460’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type, deep reddish-purple colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage with zonation; and    -   3. Vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in having a flower color with more purple colorationand higher growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Geranium cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Big Ezee Fuchsia Blue‘Duebezfubuimp’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,853. However, in comparison,plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Duebezfubuimp’ in atleast the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that has more        reddish-purple color than plants of ‘Duebezfubuimp’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more petals per flower than        plants of ‘Duebezfubuimp’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of        ‘Duebezfubuimp’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘TOSTD0460’. The plants were approximately 4 months old and grown in4.5-inch pots for approximately 13 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘TOSTD0460’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual umbel of‘TOSTD0460’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of ‘TOSTD0460’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in March 2019 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately4-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown ina glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in4.5-inch pots for approximately 13 weeks utilizing a soilless growthmedium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F.to 72° F. (19° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting wasused. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium x hortorum ‘TOSTD0460’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium x hortorum breeding            selection coded TB0378, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Eco Neon Rose ‘Genedona’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 29.0 cm. Height from soil level to top of            foliage: Approximately 13.0 cm. Width: Approximately 32.0            cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main            branches per plant: Approximately 3.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 8.5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 8.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            17D and colorless, transparent. Color of young and mature            stem: 146C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 9. Fragrance: Moderate. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem, blade            is primarily perpendicular to stem. Shape: Reniform. Margin:            Bicrenate, palmately lobed, moderately wavy. Apex: Obtuse.            Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate. Length of mature            leaf: Approximately 8.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 9.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of upper surface of young foliage: Closest to 137B            with a faint overlay of NN137A on zonal area of            approximately outer two thirds of leaf, venation of 146C.            Color of lower surface of young foliage: 147B with venation            of 146D. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest            to 137A with an overlay of NN137A on zonal area of            approximately outer two thirds of leaf, venation of 146C.            Color of lower surface of mature foliage: Closest to 147B            with venation of 146D.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 7.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.5 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            17D and colorless, transparent. Color: 146A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘TOSTD0460’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            12 to 14 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Umbel, semi-spherical. Positioned            above foliage. Quantity of fully open umbels per plant:            Approximately 2. Quantity of developing umbels per plant:            Approximately: 2. Fragrance: None detected. Length or            height: Approximately 6.0 cm. Width: Approximately 10.5 cm.            Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:            Approximately 15.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 16.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: 17D and colorless,            transparent. Color: 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elliptic. Length:            Approximately 1.4 cm. Width: Approximately 9.0 mm. Sepal            texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Petal texture: Glabrous. Petal color: NN78A.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Approximately 7 to 9 petals and 1 to 2            irregularly-shaped petaloids per flower. Shape: Obovate.            Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Attenuate. Length of upper petals: Approximately 2.8 cm.            Width of upper petals: Approximately 2.2 cm. Length of lower            petals: Approximately 2.3 cm. Width of lower petals:            Approximately 2.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface of upper petals when fully            open: Approximately NN74A and NN78B with NN155D and venation            of NN78A at base. Color of lower surface of upper petals            when fully open: NN74B with venation of 61A. Color of upper            surface of lower petals when fully open: NN74A and NN78B            with a small area of NN155D at base. Color of lower surface            of lower petals when fully open: NN74B with venation of 61B.        -   Calyx.—Shape: 5-pointed star. Diameter: Approximately 2.3            cm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Approximately 5, fused at base.            Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acuminate. Length            of upper sepal: Approximately 1.3 cm. Width of upper sepal:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of lower sepals: Approximately            1.4 cm. Width of lower sepals: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture            of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:            Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of upper and lower surfaces: 146D tinted with 187B.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to peduncle.            Length: Approximately 2.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of            glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color: 146D with a heavy overlay of 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of mature stamens:            Approximately 10 per flower. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther            length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 71B. Filament            length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Filament color: NN155D with an            overlay of 71B near anther. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: 32A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil            length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma shape: 5-branched.            Stigma length: Approximately 3.0 mm, curled. Stigma color:            71A. Style length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color: 71A.            Ovary length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely            pubescent. Ovary color: 145A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Geranium has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plantnamed ‘TOSTD0460’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.